New Website Close to Launch

We are happy to report that the new Smithtown Fire Department website should be up and running over the next few weeks. As you may have noticed our content has not been updated as frequently as in the past. This is due to the need to start the process of migrating existing content to the new site.

 

When the rebuilt site is online the Department will once again provide daily updates with a new dynamic front page news management system and an outstanding photo album program. There will also be password protected content, calendars and announcements for members of the Smithtown Fire Department to access.

Town Hall Meeting

The Smithtown Fire Department hosted a Town Hall meeting for Congressman Tim Bishop on Wednesday, December 17^TH. Bishop spoke to, and took questions from Smithtown residents on a wide range of topics from the automotive industry bailout to the war in Iraq.

After the meeting Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy toured the Smithtown dispatch center with Chief of Department Duckham and First Assistant Chief Duffy. Smithtown dispatch fields calls for the Smithtown, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Kings Park and St. James Fire Departments.

Congressman Bishop Town Hall Meeting on 12/17/08

Congressman Tim Bishop (D-1^st District) will once again visit the Smithtown Fire Department to hold a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday evening, December 17^th at 7:00pm.

 

The Congressman will answer questions of both local and national interest. For more information, please call 631-696-6500.

Christmas Parade 2008

The 29^th Annual Smithtown Fire Department Christmas Parade visited the streets and neighborhoods of the community on Saturday evening, December 13^th.  Hundreds of residents lined the streets waiting for the Parade to pass. Santa also took the time out of his busy schedule to attend the festivities.

(More Pictures to follow soon.)

In the Holiday Spirit

The Smithtown Fire Department is getting into the holiday spirit. The countdown has begun for the town wide 29^th Annual Christmas Parade taking place on Saturday evening, December 13^{th at} 5:00pm.  (Parade route is listed in a post below.)

On Sunday, December 7th, two traditional pre holiday events took place:

 

 In the morning Firefighters gathered at the Main House on Elm Avenue to decorate the building for the holidays.

 

 

And in the evening the Department helped Santa usher in the holiday season by bringing St. Nick to the Brush Barn to host the post tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Rotary Club of Smithtown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Parade Route

SMITHTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS PARADE ROUTE

December 13, 2008

Parade starts at 5:00PM

 

For the best viewing of the Parade join us at approximately 5:15 pm on Redwood Lane behind Town Hall. The parade stops here so members of the community can take pictures of the decorated apparatus.

If this is the first time you are viewing the Parade, please ask a neighbor approximately what time the Fire Department will be passing by in your area.

Go to “more” below for the complete route,

SMITHTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS PARADE SET FOR DECEMBER 13TH

One of Long Island’s most spectacular holiday parade returns for the twenty ninth year on Saturday, December 13^th. The night skies will be lit with a sea of holiday lights when the Smithtown Fire Department escorts Santa around town for their annual Christmas gift to the community.

 

The Smithtown Fire Department Christmas Parade, taking place this year on Saturday, December 13^th, is the largest holiday light parade on Long Island. Each piece of fire apparatus in the department is decked out with lights, garland and tinsel to celebrate the season.

 

Chief of Department Thomas Duckham reports that “all eight Fire Department Companies use their own financial resources and creative talents to build the moving light show. It takes a number of weeks for each Company to prepare for the parade.”

 

As in past years the parade will wind its way through all of Smithtown’s neighborhoods.

 

Jeff Bressler, Public Information Officer said that “the parade has truly become a community celebration with many residents holding block parties and holiday gatherings in their homes on the night of the event.”

 

The festivities, hosted by Santa himself, get underway at 5:00pm. The complete parade route will be released the week of December 8^th.

 

 

100TH Anniversay Parade and Celebration

Over a thousand Smithtown residents braved the elements on Saturday, October 26^th to join in the 100^th Anniversary celebration of the Smithtown Fire Department. A pesky late day rain did not dissuade the spirits of participants who enjoyed a Main Street parade which featured marchers and bands from more than 25 Suffolk County Fire Departments. The festivities continued at the New York Avenue School with complimentary food, beverage, entertainment rides and a spectacular fireworks show.

On hand to enjoy the day were Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY), NYS Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-C-I Smithtown), Smithtown Town Supervisor Pat Vecchio and councilpersons Patricia Biancaniello, Edward R. Wehrheim and Robert J. Creighton.

The day was made possible through the sponsorships of the Bank of Smithtown, Schaefer Insurance, Figari’s Liquor, Five’s Smithtown Funeral Home and Hawkins and Davis as well as donations from area businesses and residents.

     

Many More Photo’s in the Photo Bucket

http://photobucket.com/SmithtownFD

 

FIRE PREVENTION DAY – OCTOBER 19TH

The Smithtown Fire Department will hold its annual FIRE PREVENTION DAY on Sunday, October 19^th from Noon to 3:00pm at Fire Headquarters – 100 Elm Avenue.

 

Their will be a wide array of great safety activities for children and adults. The rain or shine event will feature –

 

Fire and Rescue demonstrations.

 

Smoke House

 

Firehouse Tours

 

Meet the Chief

 

There will be free handouts and special patches for Girl and Boy Scout troops.

Victory! Residential Fire Sprinklers Proposal Approved

“This press release from the THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS regards the passing of a proposal to make sprinkler systems mandatory in all new one and two family homes.

Fairfax, Va., Sept. 21, 2008… A committed and united fire service accomplished a significant feat today in the fight to save lives and property. At the International Code Council (ICC) final action hearings in Minneapolis, the proposal to change the International Residential Code to require residential fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family dwellings passed with a strong majority—73 percent—of the governmental members of the ICC present and voting. The vote was 1,282 for the code to 470 against.

Fire service personnel showed up in force as part of a unified effort with others from more than 100 public safety organizations, including the IAFC and IAFF. They came prepared with incontrovertible evidence that residential fire sprinklers save much more than property; they save the lives of the public and the lives of fire service personnel who protect them. 

Director Alan Perdue, the International Director of the IAFC’s Fire and Life Safety Section, expressed the tremendous sense of accomplishment felt by all after the long and arduous process to get this requirement into the codes. 

“For more than 30 years, the fire service community has worked toward the goal of saving lives and reducing fire loss by installing residential fire sprinklers,” he said. “By bringing all aspects of the fire service together for a common cause, today we have concluded the first monumental step of requiring residential fire sprinklers in the model codes. It is imperative, however, that we continue our collaborative efforts to protect both the public and our firefighters on the front line by working to make certain that these requirements are also adopted into state and local codes. I want to personally thank every individual and organization that was involved in making this a reality and know that your continued commitment to this initiative will save thousands of lives in the future.”

-end-

 

Smithtown Fire Department Legislative Honor

 

On Tuesday, September 16^th the Smithtown Fire Department was honored on the floor of the Suffolk County Legislature for 100 years of dedicated service to the community. A special proclamation was presented by Legislator Lynne Nowick from the 13^th Legislative District and Legislator John M. Kennedy Jr. from the 12th Legislative District.

 

In attendance at the presentation were (L-R) Jeff Bressler, Public Information Officer, First Assistant Chief Charles Duffy, Legislator Nowick, Legislator Kennedy and Third Assistant Chief Steve Sisino.

SMITHTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT 100TH ANNIVERSAY CELEBRATION NOW SLATED FOR OCTOBER 25TH.

Saturday, October 25^th is the new date for the Smithtown Fire Department’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration. The community wide event, originally scheduled for September 6^th, was postponed due to the effects of tropical Storm HANNA. Jeff Bressler, Smithtown Fire Department Public Information Officer said that “ We regretted having to postpone such a significant event, but our primary concern during the bad weather was to provide the best fire, emergency and medical services to anyone who might have been affected by the storm. That is our primary mission.”

 

The new date will have the 100^th Anniversary Parade kicking off at 3:00pm followed by complimentary food, rides, entertainment and fireworks set for 7:00pm. “The Bay Fireworks show will be an extra special feature for the community” Bressler said. “It will undoubtedly be the last chance anyone on Long Island will have to view live fireworks before 2009.”

 

Chief of Department Thomas Duckham commented that “We were disappointed that so many residents of Smithtown were so supportive of this event and that it had to be postponed. The entire department is excited that the Smithtown School District, as well as Town and County officials were so cooperative in allowing us to come up with a new date.”

Smithtown Fire Department Tropical Storm Warning Advisory 1.

In anticipation of the tropical storm warning issued for Long Island the Smithtown Fire Department wants to make you aware of some important safety precautions to take immediately around your home -

Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed.

Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

Bring items indoors that could cause damage to your home as a result of high winds such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, garbage cans etc.

100th Anniversary Event Postponed

The Smithtown Fire Department’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for Saturday evening, September 6^th has been postponed. Due to the current path of Tropical Storm HANNA, (as of 11:45am, Friday), the Department feels this decision is the most prudent.

 

It is the primary responsibility of the Smithtown Fire Department to provide the finest fire, emergency and medical services to area residents. The main focus of the Department at this time is to prepare the logistics needed for any scenario that might develop as a result of the storm over the next 48 hours, and work hand in hand with Suffolk County Emergency Management if the need arises.

 

We will inform the community of a new 100^th Anniversary Celebration date as soon as it is determined.

Blood Drive

Blood has been in short supply across Long Island this summer. The Smithtown Fire Department will hold a drive at the Main House, 100 Elm Avenue, Smithown this Monday, August 18^th.

The drive is open to both Department members as well as the general community.

Blood will be collected between 3:00pm and 8:30pm.

For more information leave a message for Debbie Hellerman at 631- 265-1503.

Smithtown Day

The Smithtown Fire Department participated in the annual Smithtown Day on Main Street.  The street was closed from Route 111 to Maple Avenue. Main Street was transformed into a pedestrian mall with thousands of residents visiting the hundreds of vendors who lined the street.

The Department had the Fire Prevention smokehouse available for visitors as well as tours of ambulance 4-2-64 and Engine 4-2-3. There were plenty of free giveaways and information on the Department.

World Famous Egg Drop

Smithtown Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company 7 recently visited the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School for the 5^th Grades annual Egg Drop.

 

The students have to package an egg in a cartoon that has to weigh at least 2 pounds. They pack it with anything made with natural ingredients and try to protect the egg like trying to protect an Astronaut in a space ship.

 

Company 7 uses the aerial bucket to drop the cartoons from 2-3 designated heights to see if the eggs “survive”. The final drop is all the way up, which hardly any survive the 95 foot drop.

 

Dropping the eggs from the bucket were Mr. Faragasso, Mr. Castigliolo and Rescue Company 9 Captain Mike Clark.

 

Captain Steve Nichols was in command of the Hook.

 

 

Arson Awareness Week, May 4-10, 2008

 

The Smithtown Fire Department is joining with the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to promote this year’s Arson Awareness Week theme: “Toy like Lighters-Playing with Fire.” The goal of this year’s Arson Awareness Week is to focus public attention on the dangers of toy like or novelty lighters in the hands of children. These toy like or novelty lighters have been responsible for deaths, injuries, and accidents in the state and across the nation.

Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys. Many of these lighters are made in the shape of animals, cars, mobile phones, guns, cameras, dolls, and action figures and the like, all attractive items to children.

Smithtown Fire District Control Room

 

The Smithtown Fire Department main house at 100 Elm Avenue houses the control room that dispatches alarms for the entire Smithtown Fire District.

 

The District provides fire, ambulance and emergency medical services to the residents of Smithtown and the surrounding communities in a 17 square mile area.

 

The Smithtown Fire Department answers over 3,100 calls per year. In addition, as a secondary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) the District, out of the main house, also provides fire and ambulance dispatching for four other fire departments, averaging over 8,000 calls a year.

 

 

 

Accompsett Kindergarten visits the Main House

“Firefighter Fred”, Smithtown Fire Department’s Fred Friedman talked about fire safety to the 150 Kindergarten students of the Accompsett Elementary School.

 The April 29^th field trip to the Elm Avenue headquarters of the Fire Department featured Friedman’s lecture and a tour of the trucks, engines and ambulances the department maintains.